(1847-1934). In August 1914, soon after the start of World War I, Paul von Hindenburg received a telegram from the German army headquarters. He was asked to take command against the Russians invading from the east. Although he was already 67 years old, he responded, "Am ready." By the end of September he and the chief of staff, General Erich von Ludendorff, had overwhelmingly defeated the Russian forces in the battles of Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes (see World War I).